CONVENTION ON NUCLEAR SAFETY The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland NATIONAL REPORT PRESENTATION for the Fifth Review Meeting April 2010, Vienna 1 CONVENTION ON NUCLEAR SAFETY Presented by Dr Mike Weightman HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations United Kingdom 2 Presentation Structure 1. Early take on the implications for the UK of the accident at Fukushima 2. Summary of the UK nuclear programme 3. Significant developments since 2008 CNS Review Meeting 4. Follow-up on issues identified at the 2008 CNS Review Meeting 5. Questions raised by peer review of UK national report 6. Current challenges 7. Potential areas of good practice 8. Planned measures to improve safety 9. Concluding remarks 3 1. Early take on the implications for the UK of the accident at Fukushima 4 • On 12 March 2011, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, requested HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, to produce a report on the implications for the UK nuclear industry of the accident that took place at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Japan • The purpose of the report is to identify any lessons to be learnt • The Secretary of State asked for an interim report by the middle of May 2011, with a final report in September 5 Implications for UK of accident at Fukushima Recognising that the situation at Fukushima is changing daily, the report will be: • comprehensive and wide in scope; • based on firm evidence and facts using the best independent scientific and technical advice available; • informed by stakeholders with access to relevant information; and • produced in an open and transparent way 6 Implications for UK of accident at Fukushima The report will give a background on nuclear power technology and the approach to nuclear safety and security regulation in the UK, internationally and in Japan Regarding events in Japan the report will give: • a high-level description of the nuclear power station at Fukushima; • design provisions at Fukushima for resilience against natural hazards; • the events at site, including timeline and impact and actions taken to protect people; • key on-site factors, including operator actions, contributing to the events; and • key off-site factors, including emergency response provisions, affecting the control and mitigation of events 7 Implications for UK of accident at Fukushima Regarding lessons for the UK, the report will provide: • a comparison of UK nuclear power station designs with those at Fukushima; • natural hazards and other potential threats to UK nuclear facilities; • potential lessons for the UK; and • any recommendations regarding the lessons learnt The Chief Inspector is setting up an independent expert technical advisory panel to assist in the report 8 2. Summary of the UK nuclear programme 9 UK Nuclear Programme Magnox reactors with steel pressure vessels n A n ersto Hunt Hunterston A - copyright Magnox Electric Ltd Chapel cross Calder Hall • Gas-cooled, graphite moderated • Natural uranium fuel clad in Trawsfynydd Magnesium alloy Sizewell A • Steel pressure vessels Berkeley Bradwell • 22 Reactors built 1956 - 1966. Hinkley point A Dungeness A • 60 – 400 Mw • All now permanently closed 10 UK Nuclear Programme Magnox reactors with Concrete Pressure vessels Oldbury- copyright Magnox Electric Ltd • Second stage of Magnox Wylfa programme • Pre-stressed concrete pressure vessels Oldbury • Four reactors built 1968 -1971 • Total capacity 1.4 Gw • Still operational 11 UK Nuclear Programme Advanced Gas-cooled reactors (AGRs) Torness Hunterston B Hartlepool Heysham 1 • Gas-cooled, graphite moderated Heysham 2 • Enriched Uranium oxide fuel • Clad in stainless steel • 14 reactors on 7 sites 1976 - 88 Hinkley Point B Dungeness B • Installed capacity 9Gw • All operational 12 UK Nuclear Programme Pressurised Water Reactor • 1995 - PWR at Sizewell B operational • UK’s only PWR Sizewell B • Last Reactor to be built in UK • Output 1.1 Gw 13 UK Nuclear Programme Nuclear facilities not covered by CNS Dounreay Drigg Sellafield Springfield UK also has: Capenhurst • Fuel manufacturing facilities Ascot • Fuel reprocessing facilities Harwell • Radioactive waste storage Winfrith • Research facilities 14 UK Nuclear Programme New Build NPP • In 2007 UK government recognised that nuclear power has a significant role in meeting the UK’s future energy needs • Government started process of consultation on new-build • Regulators’ assessment of potential new reactor designs commenced (Generic Design Assessment) 15 UK Nuclear Programme Implications of UK’s programme on compliance with the Convention • UK has a range of reactor types and ages • UK is embarking on a new build programme • UK has a wide range of nuclear facilities not covered by this Convention • In order to comply with national and international safety expectations, such a diverse programme requires a safety infrastructure that is underpinned by a legal framework and effective regulation 16 UK Nuclear Programme Law and Regulation – UK Approach (1) • Sets out health and safety framework for all places of nd employment lth a Hea • Sets out employers at responsibilities ety Saf • Enables the employment of ct ork A inspectors to enforce W compliance and gives them powers • Set up the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) • HSE regulates health and safety in all places of work including nuclear sites 17 UK Nuclear Programme Law and Regulation (2) – UK Approach • Nuclear Nuclear operators must Installations have licence for each Act 1965 (as installation • amended) Sets out the responsibilities of licence holders • Establishes structure of licensing system • Sets out insurance requirements • Became a Statutory Provision of the Health and Safety at Work Act in 1974 18 UK Nuclear Programme Law and Regulation – UK Approach (3) • Site licences granted only to corporate bodies by HSE ear Nucl • Licence brings nuclear site Site operators into a more rigorous nce safety regime than possible Lice under Health and Safety at Work Act • Licence in force throughout the lifetime of a nuclear site • Granting of a licence does not infer that a plant can operate • Control of activities exercised using the site licence conditions 19 UK Nuclear Programme Law and Regulation – UK Approach (4) • Regulatory control exercised through 36 standard conditions attached to the licence Site lear c e • Licence conditions are goal Nu enc Lic ns setting ditio Con • Some conditions require licensees to make arrangements to comply • Compliance with conditions and arrangements is mandatory • Licence conditions give regulator enforcement powers in addition to those in the Health and Safety at Work Act 20 UK Nuclear Programme Law and Regulation – UK Approach (5) The Regulatory Body • Up until 1 April 2011, the UK the nuclear safety regulator was the Nuclear Division (ND) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) • As of 1 April 2011, the nuclear safety regulator is the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) an Agency of HSE 21 UK Nuclear Programme Law and Regulation – UK Approach (6) The Regulatory Body • ONR’s function is to: – Assess safety documentation – Issue Licences and other permissions – Inspect compliance with the law – Enforce compliance with the law • ONR currently has 402 staff of which 218 are professionally qualified nuclear inspectors 22 UK Nuclear Programme Law and Regulation – UK Approach (7) The Regulatory Body • In England and Wales environmental legislation is regulated by the Environment Agency • In Scotland environmental legislation is regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency • Close liaison between ONR and the environment regulators 23 3. Significant developments since the 2008 Convention Review Meeting 24 Significant developments since 2008 Convention Political and Organisational issues • European Union Nuclear Safety Directive – UK in final stages of transposition into UK law • Changes to Licensee Organisations – EDF purchase of British Energy – Magnox Electric was split into two companies, Magnox North and Magnox South – In 2011 these two companies were re-amalgamated into a single company • Creation of Department of Energy and Climate Change – Office for Nuclear Development 25 Significant developments since 2008 Convention New Build NPP - Summary of Position at 2008 Convention • In July 2007, HSE started the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) of four potential reactor designs. • In 2008, UK Government White Paper concluded: –“it is in the public interest to give energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations” – there should be a review of the regulatory regime to see if there are further efficiency gains to be made –“Government will need to be satisfied that effective arrangements exist, or will exist, to manage and dispose of the waste they will produce” 26 Significant developments since 2008 Convention New Build NPP – Current UK Government position Government Policy on new build • Policy not substantially changed since General Election in May 2010 • 2010 Government Energy Statement said – nuclear power is a proven technology and part of a low carbon future – new build can go ahead • Government is committed to removing obstacles to investment in nuclear power 27 Significant developments since 2008 Convention New Build NPP – Government actions since 2008 Planning Reform • Planning Act 2008 designed to streamline the planning process. • Act set up Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to assess applications and make decisions • Following the 2010 General Election the coalition Government has signalled its